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Protect your heart

This year, more than half a million Americans will die as a result of heart disease. Sadly, a good portion of them will be younger than age 65, and their disease could have been prevented through changes in health habits.

Small changes can make a big difference in your heart health. Below are 28 suggestions to get you started:

1. Schedule a checkup.

2. Check the sodium levels in your foods. Shoot for 1,500 mg or less today (and every day).

3. Do a few push-ups and abdominal crunches before you leave for work.

4. If you use tobacco, try a day off and plan a reward for your success.

5. Turn grocery shopping into exercise-park far from the door, do abdominal flexes while standing in line, load your own groceries, use cans and cartons for arm curls while putting away your groceries.

6. Set yourself up for successful sleep—eight hours.

7. Cut your food portions by 10 percent. Even if you cut 10 calories each day, in one year you would lose a pound. In 10 years, that's 10 pounds.